Spool construction



G. G` TUCKER, JR

SPOOL CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 24, 1949 May 20, 1952 NIMH atented May 20, 1952 v 2,597,139 srooL. CONSTRUCTION George G. Tucker, Jr., Berwyn, Ill., 'assgnor to Hubbard Spool Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application August 24, 1949, Serial No.112.017

Y zfclaims. (C1. 242-123)` This. invention relates to .improvements in a reel or spool structure for supporting Wire, cord, thread, or .similar material. More particularly, -this invention has to do with a spool having improved and lstrengthened head members.V

Spools adapted for. carrying material such as thread or wire must be of a rigid construction having all the elements suitably secured together. Although material such as thread or wire is comparatively light when it is wound on a spool, it builds up a heavy pressure against the head, and, therefore, the spool must be so constructed that the heads are strong and rigid and accurately maintained with their inner faces in radial planes so that the head will not spread under the heavy pressure built up during Winding. Unless such accurately dimensioned and rigid structure is provided for the spool, the winding of the thread or wire will not be `uniform and regular and the Vthread will catchV and snarl during unvvinding `of the spool.

Itis, therefore, an important object of my invention to construct a spool of this type of relatively light-gauge sheet metal, such as steel, with the various sheet metal elements arranged and rigidly secured together, as by brazing, for cooperation to produce a rigid structure which will maintain its proper shape and resist deection or distortion.

Another object of this invention is to produce a spool constructed of comparatively light-gauge sheet metal parts in which each head is in the form of a sheet metal disk stiifened, strengthened and braced by a reinforcing Web structure stamped integral from sheet metal with stiftening ribbing and secured to the head disk to form a strong head structure which will resist and withstand the spreading strains imposed thereon.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a simplied eiiicient means for securing and holding various parts of a spool intimately together in assembled relation.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing:

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a spool constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on line II-II of Figure 1, partly in elevation, particularly illustrating the head construction of this spool.

As shown on the drawing:

In Figures l and 2, the reference numeral .I0 indicates a spool comprising two`disklike head assemblies I2 mounted -at either end'of a cylindrical hub I4.

Each head assembly IZ'includesarngeshaped plate I6 having an outer curled peripheral edge I8 and an axially extending inner cylindrical ange 28 that deiines a circular opening y22 in the plate I6. The plate I5 has a plurality of arcuate apertures or slotsl24 that .are spaced angularly in relation to eachother on'r aY common radius vfrom the axis of the ring-like plate. .These slots 24 are arranged tofreceve tabs. 26that project axially' from the end oftheA cylindrical hub I4. When the tabs 26 areinserted through the slots 24', they are bent over to lie flat against the face of the plate I6;

It will be understood, of course, A.thatr the head` I In each head assembly, the' plate .I6 is rein-l Ag forcedby an annular plate orwasher. 28. that yhas a curled, peripheral outer edge. 30v that ts snugly under theY curledy edge`Y I8'. of the'plate'IS.

The washer 28 lies flat against the plate I6 and has a series of spaced, axially deected portions 36 forming recesses overthe turned-down tab members 26. The outer surface 38 of the recesses lies in a plane dened by the ends of the curled edge I8 of the plate I5, and cooperates therewith to provide a flat, end surface for the spool.

The outer surfaces 38 of the recesses are blended into the main portion of the washer 28 by inclined transition portions 40 that also act as reinforcing ribs lending rigidity to the structure.

The Washer 28 has a central opening defined by an axially extending cylindrical ange I2 that projects into the hub I4 in close fitting engagement With the ange 28 of the end plate I6. A tubular insert 44 telescopes inside the flange 42 and has an outwardly flared end portion 46 that overlaps the rounded portion 48 of the washer 28.

The cylindrical hub I4 and the insert 44 may be made from seamless tubing or, as shown in Figure 1, they may be formed from a flat plate which is bent around a mandrel to form a cylindrical member and spliced at their abutting ends by means of a strip 58 welded to each member.

Four spaced lug holes 52 are provided in the washer as well as a plurality of drain holes 53. Drain holes 54 are also provided at the outer rim of the washer. Further, a hole 5B is provided in crazed together; the cylindrical flange 29 of themi i plate I6 is brazed to the cylindrical flange 420i the Washer 28, and the flange 42 is brazed'to the insert 44 at its axially inner end, andiattherround-v ed portion 48. o Thus, the elements of this spool assembly are all held in rigid engagement. The: overlapping x tab portions of the hub I4 and of the insert 4 4 particularly aid in resisting endwise thrusts on the head assemblies. The rib portions of the washer also tend to strengthenthehead'assemblies ,against axialdeflection;

Thusgzitwll be seen thatthereis provided' in this invention a spool Which is simple andrigid in construction, economical to manufacture, and

onethat willtbe durableinservice;

ItV will befunderstood that modifications and variations-may beeifectedwithoutdeparting from o the scopeofv thefinovel. concept ofthe vpresent invention.`

I claimtasvmy invention 5:

1; ,Ab spool comprisingv atulsiulan` hub initially provided L. with axially., extending.: generally f rectanglular,` tabs :on the ends thereof, azrst circular platea-teachendof the hub havngslotsthrough Wlichisaid ,tabs proj ect, `a: Second plate'I adj a-cent eachoffsaid; first plates :and havingV an inturned annular axially extending flangerportion, and .ani inserti in` `said ,hubs concentric therewith having en'dxportionsl lying z inside ofi. said:flanges; the

projecting endsV of saidfta'bszandsaid insert end portions being bent back against" thepadjacent plates; and securedthereto t0 prevent outvvarlzl axiall displacement :of 'the plates, eachv of said secondplates havingv circurnferentiallyspaeedfrethe plate dening said recesses being formed with substantially flat portions which are larger than but of the same general shape as the enclosed tabs, said flat surfaces providing a substantial bearing area for resisting axial loads and coactingWith the remaining portions of said second plates to lform ribs for stiffening the same.

2.; A- spool comprisingia" tubular hub'.' having spaced tabs that initiallyextendlaxiallyfa'tubular insert inside said hub and concentric therewith,

and a head assembly secured on each end of said hub and on said insert, each head assembly com- 'prising a pair of abutting annular plates, one of saidplateszhavingspaced slots through which said cesses including said'-tabsytheaoutward wall of Y tabsprojectfandthe other of said plates having an" annular axiallyextending flange receiving saidrinsermsaiditabs and the ends of said insert being bent back over said one and said other plates,A respectively, to prevent outward axial displacement of said head assemblies, said other plates having a .plurality 4of spaced' offset gener-A ally :rectangular planar portionsy connected to; the

remainingipcrtionsi of vthe plates: by, inclined: .rib members, the offsetpplanarporticns bengof sub-j. stantiallyV the` same sizeI as.. .the portions of the platestherebetweento divide the plates into inner andA outerY ribs .for reinforcing .the head assembly;A bothaxiallyfinwardly. and, axiallylf outwardly?V to;

prevent rbucklingg'otthe same. Y Y e GEORGE-G, TUCKEm-Ja, q

REFERENCES 'CITE'Df l' The; tollowi'ng references' areV ofrecord inthe.

le of `this patenti;k

UNITED- asume PATENTS 1 Number Name Date' 1,361,541,062 Hbbard 1- Jn-11,11, 1921-- 1,4!72,980 Hub-bard v NOV; 6, 1923* 1,753,341 Hlavac Apr. 8; 19'30"' 1,920,422 Mi1isr V Aug-1l 1, 1933 2,316,028* enV A'pr; 6; 1943 2,392,512- olson 1 1 Jn; 8,1946Y 2,411,92r1V Powell' 1 Dec.-3,1'946' 

